Drive chain



Patented Apr. 10, 1923 UNETEO STATES GEORGE W. WILMOT, F HAZLETON,

earner orrice. f

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WILMOT ENGI- SYLV'AN IA.

DRIVE CHAIN.

Application filed September To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE IV. WILMOT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hazleton, in the county of Luzerne and 5 State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Drive Chains, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to drive chains in which the links thereof consist of single bars and it has for one of its objects to provide a simple and eflicient means of connection of the adjoining ends of any two links.

The invention also has for one of its objects to provide replaceable wearing means intermediate projections upon the opposite ends of the links and means for engaging the said projections to connect the adjacent ends of any two adjoining links.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be pointed out in the detailed description thereof which follows or will be apparent from such description.

In order that the invention may be readily understood and its practical commercial advantages fully appreciated, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which I have illustrated certain forms of embodiment thereof.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a view partly in longitudinal horizontal section and partly in top plan view; 7

Fig.2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 1 but showing a modification of the construction; and

Fig. 4 is a View partly in side elevation and partly in section taken on the line lof Fi 3.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing: 1 designates the links ofa chain, each link, as shown, consisting of a single bar having laterally and oppositely extending projections 2 adjacent its opposite ends. The projections in the construction shown in these two figures are rectangular in cross section although they may be of other polygonal section. 3 designates wearing collars or sleeves having openings therethrough of the same cross sectional shape as the projections 2. These wearing collars or sleeves 3 are fitted upon 1, 1920. Serial No. 407,364.

the projections 2, as is clearly shown in the drawlng.

For the purpose of connecting adjacent ends of adjoining links 1 together, I have i provided the connecting blocks 4, which blocks are situated upon opposite sides of adjacent end portions of adjoining links, as 1s shown. Each of these blocks is provided with two openings or sockets 5 which are situated in adjacent relation with respect to each otherupon the inner sides of the said blocks. These openings 5 are adapted to re ings 10 which extend through the ends of the links land through the lateral projec tions 2. After the connecting blocks 4 are placed in position upon opposite sides of the adjacent end portions of adjoining links with the wearing sleeves or collars 3 and the projections 2 extending into the openings or sockets 5, the bolts 7 are inserted through the openings 8 in the blocks and through the openings 10, after which the nuts 11 are placed in position upon the screw-threaded ends thereof to retain the same.

It will be observed that in the use of the chain the wear. of the blocks l will be upon the inner surface portions of the sleeves or collars 3' and not upon the projections-.2. When the inner portions of these sleevesor collars have become too greatly worn, the bolts 7 and the connecting blocks 4 maybe removed to permit the removal and turning of the wearing sleeves so as to subject dia metrically oppositely disposed portions of the sleeves to wear. If the sleeves should become Worn out they may be removed and replaced by other new sleeves. In this way the life of the chain may be greatly enhanced or lengthened,

It will be apparent that the last described I feature of my inventioncomprising wearing collars or sleeves 1s not necessarily limited to I ing .10 ck 2* the laterally oppositely a construction in which the links employed consist of single bars, as shown, but links of other-design and construction maybe employed in connection with said collars or sleeves.

Although I prefer to employ the form of construction as shown in Figs. 1 and 2', it will be apparent that the wearing sleeves 3 may be omitted, consequently in Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown a construction, which does not include these sleeves. In these Figs. 3 andq l, 1 designatesthe single bar links and disposed projections at ,the opposite ends, thereof, which p qjegcuons re circular in cross section. In tli'i :qonstruction, as that shown in. Figs. 1 l2,,,connec ting blo'cksfl are e1 ployed whlcli are prov ded w th ,openings or socketfsg5 upon the inner Sides thereof. The projections 2f .are adapted to enter these. openings oi spckets 5 t henthe connecting blocks 4 are placed inposit'ion upon opposite sides oiithe adjacent, end portions of adjoining links. Iheconnecting blocks a are connected together ammo the adj acent end portions ofladj dining links by means of bolts 7 which extend through ,openings 8. in the connect- I j n d penings .10 in theends of the 1ii1-ks'andfthe projections2 These bolts are retained in position by 'neans of nuts 11.

,It jvillbefohserved that this construction the projeictions contact directly with the connecting "locks t and that the wear comes diefihi p i a fl i Pr j tio s. It W l be apparent, .therefore,,that when these projections. are .wornfso that they may not be turther or longer used, ,itfis necessary to discard the, wholelinli. WhileQthis construction is I satisfactory and when [employed produces a veryl at isf actory. and eflicientjchain structura y tlor.econom cal. reasons the ,con-

stru ction; shown in the wearing collars or sleeves areemployed,

is proterred, I 1 j s .ln both torrns of construction the bolts Z co-operate with the blocked intaking up and resistingthestrain exerted by the pull upon the chains when the latterare 'inuse.

.lbi appar t t-t dja nt en o any two adj oining, links maybe disconnected the bolts and the conea ily bv't mq in gagement with the necting blocks from en saidlinks.

Having thus described my invention, what I.claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-. I

l,..-,A;drive chain comprising .links, each of which consists oiia single loar having laterally extending projections at its opposite ends, connecting blocks situated on opposite sides of adjacent end portions of adjoining links, said blocks having adjacent sockets Figs. 1 and2, in which end portions of adjoining links, said blocks having sockets in their inner sides into which said projections extend, and also having holes which. extend outwardly from thebot toms of said sockets, and bolts which extend through the holes in saidbl'ocks and to connect said blocks to said links and to each other.

3, A drive chain comprising links each jot which is provided with a lateral projection at its opposite ends, wearing, sleevesiitting said projections, connecting blocks said projections, and a plurality oi means for connecting said connecting blocks to the adjacent ends of any two, adjoining links, one of said means end of one of said links and thefdther through the adjacent end ojjthe other linir,

i. A drive chain compr s nglinks,eachof which is provided at its opposite fehds with laterally and oppositely extending pr ections which are polygonal in cross sec wearing sleeves having openings (therethrough oflike ross section which fit over the said projections, the said fsleevesbein'g rotatabl y adjustable and being circular cross section, connecting block's situated on 'nd ns. r u h an.

opposite sides of adj ace'ntends of adjoining links, said blocks each having sockets "adjacent each other which are c rcular n "cross section and into which the saidprojectioli is are adapted to extend, and means for connecting said blocks tosaid links,

5. A drive chain comprising links ,e ajdhjof which is provided at 'its opposite eiidslwlth at y a d. igpos al tt ies rfiqit tio is polygonal in v ross section, replaceable wearing sleeves upon said projections, sleeves having openings therethrdugh of 't li'e same cross sectional ar ai s thesai'dprbjections, connecting blocks situated on opposite sides of adjacent end portions oi' adjginmg links, said blocks having socket ope upon their inner sides into which thejjsaid sleeves and projections extend, a i id means for securing said hlocksfto fsaid In testimony that I 'claiin'th'e fo o as my invention, 1 have he jeu j tofsigne dfiny name this 26th day of August'A. 1);,1920.

GEORGE W. 'wrniro'r. 

